Quality

Relocation and its benefits are a huge topic within recruitment, especially when speaking about niche industries like: MedTech, Aviation and Aerospace, or Mining.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. The world is facing environmental and social crises and consumers are demanding that companies and individuals take responsibility and action. It’s a hot topic in our work lives as much as it is privately. For many of us, it guides the brands we choose, the food we eat, and the decisions we make in day-to-day life. Fast fashion is one example of unsustainable living and a major contributor to the worldwide problem. Overall, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions, according to the UN - more than the aviation and shipping combined. The term ‘fast fashion’ describes the quick turnover of fashion trends and the move towards cheap, mass-produced clothing where new lines are constantly released. What is the environmental impact of this? Most of fashion's environmental impact comes from the use of raw materials: ​Cotton for the fashion industry uses about 2.5% of the world's farmlandSynthetic materials like polyester require an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every yearClothes production processes such as dying requires 43 million tonnes of chemicals a year​How does sustainability impact the Medical Device industry? Manufacturers are giving sustainability in medical device design more and more attention. Sustainable medical equipment can benefit businesses in terms of cost savings, investor attraction, greater brand value, and competitive advantage, in addition to being better for the environment and appealing to consumers. Manufacturers must consider sustainability at the beginning of the design phase and take the equipment's whole lifecycle into account if they are to gain these advantages. How to make medical devices more sustainable There are many approaches to make medical devices more sustainable. For example, they could use less energy, be produced with low-emission materials and procedures, utilize fewer materials or less packaging, or have longer lifespans. The sustainability of a medical device is significantly influenced by the choice of materials. Using more sustainable materials makes a device more tolerable for patients, for example by using fewer toxic chemicals during production. Using the fewest resources possible in production helps to enable recycling alternatives. Sustainability considerations should be built into the design of the device from the very beginning. However, medical device manufacturers face several challenges as a result. A lot of devices, such as needles and catheters, must be packaged sterile, which produces a lot of waste. The options for substituting or reducing the materials used is often limited due to the sterility requirements. Other manufacturers can switch to reusable materials or make their packaging as mono-material a possible, which makes it easier to recycle. The first step in becoming more sustainable is having an awareness of it as a business, or as a personal goal. Using this awareness can help us all to make better conscious decisions in our buying patterns, and in our R&D processes.

I want to talk about criticism at work, how to take it, learn from it and move on.It is one of those factors, that un-FORTUNATELY (yes- you read it right) is ever present in our professional lives, and I for one am happy about that.However good we are at our jobs, however efficient and hard-working, there’s always room for improvement.… But how could we improve if we don’t think we need to?Just like Winston Churchill once said:“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things”Even though we all know that constructive criticism is more useful than a praise, I’m sure some of you would agree that being on the receiving end is not always easy.To help, I’ve put together a few tips:First, be open minded. Show your supervisor that you are open to receiving the feedback, why? Managers as well as clients also dislike giving criticism, so by saying that you are open to it, you prove your mental maturity and help to build a better rapport with them for future.Second, listen. Take it all in. Do not feel like you have to respond immediately. You want to show that you have listened, are not defensive and are accountable. Make sure to thank them for the feedback and let them know you appreciate it.Afterwards we might feel bad, embarrassed or even angry. That’s absolutely fine – we’re only human. Call your partner, friend or a close colleague and acknowledge your feelings. Then once you settle down you will start to see the situation in a new light.Third, learn. Try and find a lesson in the criticism given. Now that you had time to digest what’s been said, see what you can take from it for future improvements. 8 out of 10 times, negative feedback is given in order to help you develop and grow.Fourth, move on. Nothing more, nothing less. Once you’ve been given the feedback, you acknowledged your learning or reflected on the mistake – move on.The reason for giving you this feedback in the first place was not to put you down and make you feel incompetent – it is to ensure, that you improve and grow!